common ancestor/phylo/cladogram flashcard

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What is a common ancestor?

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A common ancestor is an organism from which two or more different species have evolved.

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What is a phylogenetic tree?

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A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

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What does a cladogram represent?

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A cladogram is a type of phylogenetic tree that shows the relationships between organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary history.

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What is natural selection?

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is an adaptation?

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An adaptation is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

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What are tetrapod limbs?

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Tetrapod limbs are limbs that have evolved from the fins of fish, allowing for movement on land.

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What is the significance of feathers in evolution?

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Feathers are significant as they represent an adaptation that evolved for insulation and later for flight in birds.

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What does divergence mean in evolutionary biology?

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Divergence refers to the process by which two or more related species become more dissimilar over time, often due to different environmental pressures.

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What is a niche in ecology?

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A niche is the role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.

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What is the role of selection pressures in evolution?

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Selection pressures are environmental factors that influence which individuals survive and reproduce, shaping the evolution of species.